Has anyone done the CTC Training L3 teaching course? Or has anyone done a course that they've struggled with despite them having experience?

[unhingedfoghorn]

My lord have I struggled with it! I feel like they want blood, sweat and my inside leg measurement. Everything I write gets referred back at least once, often more.

I am near the end now-have submitted my lesson plan which then leads to a 'microteach' where you'd 'teach' someone for 15 minutes, subject of your choice. My lesson plan isn't interactive enough and they're concerned about my timings and some of the wording I've used isn't right and and and...

They've also said to me to remember that I might NEED to demonstrate my teaching in interviews for jobs.

Yes, I know. I've been teaching adult learners from Levels 2 to 5 (post grad level usually) for years! I just have never qualified and was offered this course free when I was made redundant so I thought 'Why not? It'll make my CV a bit better!'

This is mainly a rant. However if anyone HAS done it and has any tips to help me I'd be very grateful.

As an aside I find my assessor quite rude and abrupt and I have a list of things to point out to them once I pass if that ever friggin' happens !

In one of their demonstration videos for example they've said something like 'It's important to be inclusive, for example if anyone has disabilities or learning difficulties be mindful of this, or anything else that's wrong'

So basically saying someone who has ADHD/ASD etc has something 'wrong' with them.

It sounds as if you have been unlucky with your assessor. I would recommend Ann Gravells’ website and text book (for the Award in Education and Training) which will help you to make sure that your microteaching session meets the criteria of the qualification, as it is not just about how good your lesson is, but you will also need to cover specific criteria required by the awarding organisation, so be sure to check what should be included. Good luck!

Thank you!
Honestly my Master's degree was less taxing than this! I'm not joking! 😂

If it is an online course, as it seems to be from their website, that is really difficult too for a teaching qualification - even at L3. Not something I’d recommend to others as you benefit so much from a group microteaching experience, which it doesn’t look like you will have.

Yes it is all online.

I was offered it when made redundant which I was grateful for don't get me wrong, and I didn't expect it to be easy! But just being familiar with the industry, it doesn't seem to reflect it at all.

Never had to go into so much detail and be so perfect in my entire teaching experience and I've never failed an interview. I've always had good feedback and good results, too.

I refer you back to my ‘unlucky with your assessor’ comment! Their description of inclusivity being for those with something ‘wrong’ says it all really. I’m wondering if they also told you to take into account different learning styles as well, since they seem stuck in the 80s. You’ve done well to cope with this type of qualification online, don’t question your own ability. Instead question how can a training company offer a teaching qualification in this format and at such a cheap price and does this reflect on who they employ to deliver it?

Oh I agree with you, I will of course as it means this isn't my fault (😂)

There's a few other things I am going to point out to them as quite alarming too.

Yes, different learning styles, learner-centred (those things tend to come so naturally to me though, as in being inclusive and appreciating that some people take longer, different strengths and difficulties) that putting 'proof' into words is proving problematic.

Well, a company called 'Response to Redundancy' paid for it, but I am going to find out how much it actually IS now.

If I had to write such detailed plans for every single lesson during my time teaching I'd never have time to teach anything-and it doesn't really work the way they say it does. They're so strict on timings for just one example, and yes of course It's important to fit the lesson into the time, but you can't time it so strictly! People ask questions, take loo breaks, take longer on one activity and get through the next quicker than might be expected-teaching isn't robotic!

Some aspects of it that I've had to do make me question if these people have ever taught anything to adult learners at all! 😂

NOT Recommended - Avoid at All Costs

NOTE: I am a fully trained teacher, university professor, and expert examiner for Edexcel. I have been in the academic arena for over 30 years. What I have experienced with this course provider is astonishing.

I enrolled in the UPPA course with CTC Training in good faith, paid in full, and completed my assignments on time. What I experienced was nothing short of shocking for a provider delivering a regulated qualification:

Failure to follow their own published policies: I lodged a formal appeal on 15 September 2025. Their Appeals Policy clearly states appeals must be acknowledged within 2 working days and resolved within 10. They did neither. Instead, they invented a “7-day rule” which does not exist in their own published policy.

Unprofessional handling of complaints: For days my appeal email sat “unopened.” When I chased, I was blamed for “ending calls abruptly” and accused of being “unwilling to submit further work” — a gross misrepresentation of the facts.

Breach of learner rights: Rather than honour their Appeals Policy, they unilaterally refunded my fees and removed my course access, depriving me of the qualification I had already completed substantial work towards. I never asked to be withdrawn — I asked for fairness, transparency, and a marking rubric.

Serious learner impact: Their negligence caused unnecessary stress and damaged my confidence in the quality of their courses. I am now pursuing a formal complaint through TQUK and will escalate to Ofqual if necessary, as this is clear maladministration.

In short: learners are sold the promise of support, fairness, and professionalism, but in practice CTC fails to uphold even its own Google-published policies. If you value your time, money, and wellbeing, I strongly advise you to avoid CTC Training.

I am so sorry I didn't see this repsonse before. I have been clearing out emails and just come across it.

That indeed, is shocking. I have finished the course now, (thank the lord!) but even without your examples I found the company so shocking. Almost cowboy-ish. I did write to them about their mislabeling and miswording (at least I hope that's what it was!) regarding the notion that anyone with a protected characteristic was 'wrong' in some way, and about various other things that I forget a this moment. Whether they take any heed however, is debatable of course.

Uncertain if I should remove this qualification from my C.V now.

I also must say, you have a repertoire I am envious of. I adore tutoring but have always wished I had taken my degrees further and stayed in academia.

I have a friend who teaches PHD students however who has always tried to put me off, saying she feels like a 'glorified dogsbody'. I hope her experience isn't the norm!

Not this course specifically, but CTC kept rejecting my assignments claiming I had used AI which I had absolutely not. I almost gave up entirely as I was so fed up! I had cited all of my sources and had used the correct referencing system too but it seemed like they couldn't be bothered to actually read my work. I would never use them again